The Burgess Bird Boole for Children 



and bill to help him over the ground. On shore he 

 is about the most helpless thing you can imagine. 

 But on water he is another fellow altogether. 

 He's just as much at home under water as on top. 

 My, how that fellow can dive ! When he sees the 

 flash of a gun he will get under water before the 

 shot can reach him. That's where he has the 

 advantage of us Geese. You know we can't dive. 

 He could swim clear across this river under water 

 if he wanted to, and he can go so fast under water 

 that he can catch a fish. It is because his legs have 

 been placed so far back that he can swim so fast. 

 You know his feet are nothing but big paddles. 

 Another funny thing is that he can sink right down 

 in the water when he wants to, with nothing but his 

 head out. I envy him that. It would be a lot 

 easier for us Geese to escape the dreadful hunters if 

 we could sink down that way." 



"Has he a bill like yours?" asked Peter in- 

 nocently. 



" Of course not," replied Honker. "Didn't I tell 

 you that he lives on fish ? How do you suppose he 

 would hold on to his slippery fish if he had a broad 

 bill like mine ? His bill is stout, straight and sharp 

 pointed. He is rather a handsome fellow. He is 

 pretty nearly as big as I am, and his back, wings, 

 tail and neck are black with bluish or greenish ap- 

 pearance in the sun. His back and wings are 

 [290] 



